Nitrification in a vertically moving biofilm system

A laboratory continuous feed biofilm reactor, comprising a bulk fluid reactor, a biofilm plastic module, a feed tank, and pneumatic devices and controls, was operated for a total period of 257 days, including seeding time, to treat domestic-strength synthetic wastewater under increasing ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) loading rates, ranging from 0.17±0.01 (0.71±0.06 g m−2 d−1) to 0.70±0.02 kg m−3 d−1 (2.9±0.1 g m−2 d−1). The biofilm plastic module was moved vertically in and out of the wastewater in continuous cycles. The maximum NH4+-N removal rate was reached during the maximum loading phase, when a NH4+-N loading rate of 0.70±0.02 kg m−3 d−1 (2.9±0.1 g m−2 d−1) was applied to the system. During this loading period, the average NH4+-N removal rate was 0.30±0.10 kg m−3 d−1 (1.30±0.40 g m−2 d−1).